Texts and Translations
Concert Chorale
Hello Mary Lou
arr. David Wright
Passed me by one summer day,
flashed those big brown eyes my way,
and, oh, I wanted you forever more.
I'm not one that gets around,
swear my feet stuck to the ground.
And though I never did meet you before.
Hello Mary Lou, goodbye heart.
Sweet Mary Lou, I'm so in love with you.
I knew, Mary Lou, that we'd never part,
so hello Mary Lou, goodbye heart.
Saw your lips, I heard your voice.
Believe me I just had no choice.
Wild horses couldn't make me stay away.
Thought about a moonlit night,
arms about you good an' tight.
That's all I need to see for me to stay.
Hello Mary Lou, I'm in love with you.
Yes, hello Mary Lou, goodbye heart!
Right from the start, I said hello, Mary Lou,
goodbye, heart!
-Gene Pitney and Cayet Mangiaracina
Tunggare
Stephen Leek
Tunggare
Voice
-Indigenous Australian dialect
Notre père
Maurice Duruflé
Notre Père qui es aux Cieux
Que Ton nom soit sanctifié
Que Ton règne vienne
Que Ta volonté soit faite
Sur la Terre comme au Ciel
Donne-nous aujourd'hui notre pain de ce jour
Pardonne-nous nos offenses
Comme nous pardonnons aussi à ceux qui nous ont offensés
Et ne nous soumets pas à la tentation
Mais délivre-nous du Mal
Our Father who art in Heaven
Hallowed by thy name
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done
On Earth as it is in Heaven
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us
And lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil
-Traditional Christian prayer
The Cloths of Heaven
Z. Randall Stroope
Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with gold and silver light
I'd spread the gold and silver cloths under your feet
Had I the blue and dim, dark cloths of night,
and cloths of light and half-light,
I'd spread the cloths of night and light under your feet
Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths
But I, being poor, have only my dreams,
I spread them under your feet;
Tread softly, you tread on my dreams.
-William Butler Yeats
Drinking Gourd
arr. André J. Thomas
Follow the drinking gourd,
For the old man is a-wait-in' for to carry you to freedom,
if you follow the drinking gourd
When the sun comes back and the first quail calls,
Follow the drinking gourd.
The river bank will make a very good road
The dead trees will show you the way
Left foot, peg foot, travelling on,
Follow the drinking gourd.
The river ends between two hills.
There's another river on the other side.
Where the great river meets the little river,
Follow the drinking gourd.
-African-American folk song
Yo le canto todo el dia
David L. Brunner
Ya me voy de corazón,
Ya me voy con un tambor.
Yo le canto todo el dia,
¡Yo le canto!
Yo le canto todo el dia,
con cariño y alegría,
ya me voy con un tambor,
con cariño y emoción.
¡La la la!
I am moving now with my heart,
I am moving now with a drum.
I sing to you all day,
I sing to you!
I sing to you all day,
with affection and joy,
I am moving with a drum,
with affection and emotion.
La la la!
-Inspired by the native music of Venezuela
Chamber Singers
Lay a Garland
Robert Lucas Pearsall
Lay a garland on her hearse
Of dismal yew.
Maidens, willow branches, wear.
Say she died true.
Her love was false, but she was firm.
Upon her buried body lie,
Lightly, thou gentle earth.
-Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher
Ohimè, se tanto amate
Claudio Monteverdi
Ohimè, se tanto amate
di sentir dir Ohimè, deh perché fate
chi dice Ohimè morire?
S'io moro un sol potrete
languido, e doloroso Ohimè sentire;
Ma se, cor mio, vorrete
che vita habbia da voi, e voi da me,
avrete mille e mille dolci Ohimè.
Alas, if you love so much
as to feel like saying "alas," then why do you make
him who says "alas" die?
If I die you can only one
languid and sorrowful "alas" feel;
But if, my heart, you wish,
that I should have life in you, and you in me,
You will have that sweet "alas" thousands and thousands of times over.
-Giovanni Battista Guarini
Ov'è, Lass', Il Bel Viso?
Morten Lauridsen
Ov'è lass', il belo viso? ecco, eì s'asconde.
Oimè, dov'il mio sol? lasso, che velo
S'è post'inanti et rend'oscur'il cielo?
Oimè ch'io il chiamo et veggio; eì non risponde.
Dhe se mai sieno a tue vele seconde
Aure, dolce mio ben, se cangi pelo
El loco tardi, et se 'l signor di Delo
Gratia et valor nel tuo bel sen'asconde,
Ascolta i miei sospiri et da' lor loco
Di volger in amor l'ingiusto sdegno,
Et vinca tua pietade il duro sempio,
Vedi qual m'arde et mi consuma fuoco;
Qual fie scusa miglior, qual magior segno
Ch'io son di viva fede et d'amor tempio!
Alas, where is the beautiful face? Behold, it hides.
Woe's me, where is my sun? ALas, what veil
Drapes itself and renders the heavens dark?
Woe's me, that I call and see it; it doesn't respond.
Oh, if your sails have auspicious winds,
My dearest sweet, and if you change your hair
And features late, if the Lord of Delos
Hides grace and valor in your beautiful bosom
Hear my sighs and give them place
To turn unjust disdain into love,
And may your pity conquer hardships.
See how I burn and how I am consumed by fire;
What better reason, what greater sign
That I, a temple of faithful life and love!
-Henricus Schaffen, tr. Erica Muhl
University Singers
Crucifixion
arr. Adolphus Hailstork
They crucified my Lord,
And he never said a mumblin' word.
They nailed him to a tree,
And he never said a mumblin' word.
They pierced him in the side,
And he never said a mumblin' word.
He bowed his head and died,
Oh, my Lord, not a word,
And he never said a mumblin' word.
-African-American spiritual
Leron, Leron Sinta
arr. Saunder Choi
Leron, Leron sinta,
buko ng papaya,
Dala-dala'y buslo,
sisidlan ng bunga.
Pagdating sa dulo'y,
nabali ang sanga.
Kapos kapalaran,
humanap ng iba.
Gumising ka, neneng;
tayo'y manampalok.
Dalhin mo ang buslong,
sisidlan ng hinog.
Pagdating sa dulo'y,
lalamba-lambayog.
Kumapit ka, neneng;
baka ka mahulog.
Ang iibigin ko'y
lalaking matapang.
Baril niya ay pito;
sundang niya ay siyam.
Ang lalakarin niya'y
parte ng dinulang.
Isang pinggang pansit
ang kanyang kalaban.
Leron, Leron, my dear,
blossoms of the papaya tree,
who a bamboo basket (climbs the tree),
he'd gather some fruits.
But when he reached the top,
the branch broke.
Oh, what a trick of fate,
he had to search for another.
Wake up, neneng,
let's pick some tamarind fruits.
Take the bamboo baskets,
to put the ripe ones in.
Upon reaching the top,
the branches swayed heavily.
Hold on tight, neneng,
As you might fall.
The one I will love
is a fearless man.
He has seven guns
and nine knives.
The journey he will take
is the distance of a table.
A plate of noodles
is his foe!
-Filipino folk song
Meine Seele erhebt den Herrn
Heinrich von Herzogenberg
Meine Seele erhebt den Herrn,
und mein Geist freut sich Gottes, meines Heilands,
denn er hat große Dinge an mir getan,
der da mächtig ist,
und des Name heilig ist.
My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he done great things for me,
he who is mighty
and whose name is holy.
-Luke 1:46-47, 49
Kalinda
Sydney Guillaume
Mézanmi tandé, wi sé poun tandé:
Kalinda, jan ou ka kalinda,
Sé gran mési kout tanbou.
Kalinda, jan ou ka kalinda,
Out é mèt byen banda...
Sé gran mési kout tanbou,
San li pata gin Kalinda.
Oh, Ala bèl, wi sa ta bèl,
Oh bèl, oh bèl,
Si tout moun téka jwen tanbou.
Ayibobo!
Kalinda, jan ou ka kalinda,
Sé gran mési kout tanbou,
Joumou pa donnin kalbas,
Zannanna pa donnin pingwen;
Tout bon bagay, sé prodwi bon bagay.
Tout sa ki byen, soti nan sa ki byen.
Mèsi kout tanbou, gran mèsi kout tanbou.
Ayibobo!
Listen friends, yes you have to listen:
Dance, the best way you can,
It's thanks to the sounds of the drum.
Dance, the besy way you know how,
You can dance as much as you can...
It's thanks to the sounds of the drum,
Oh, how beautiful
Without which, there would not be any dancing.
Oh how beautiful it would be,
If everone could find a drum.
Ayibobo!
Dance, the best way you know how,
It's thanks to the sounds of the drum.
The apples does not fall far from the tree;
All good things derive from good things
Thank you, drumbeats.
It is thanks to the sounds of the drum.
Ayibobo!
-Gabriel Toussaint Guillaume, tr. Lodz Deetjen
Lake Effect
Ready, Aim, Fire
arr. Kerry Marsh
I set your wounds up on the wire like so many old cans for target practice.
Line 'em up, ready, aim, and fire.
I let the arrows fly.
And right away I see the damage.
I try to tell myself it doesn't matter.
That this is all that I can manage.
Not up to me to try.
How did I get so cold and heartless?
What was happening when I wasn't looking?
Casual cruelty so mean and artless, not even clever.
That latest bluff you're not believing,
I see that I have pushed you to your limit.
I grab your elbow as you're leaving.
I say I'm sorry.
Why do you let me take your heart,
Make it a ball to kick around?
It doesn't get you anywhere.
What in me makes you take it on, shake it off, stick around,
Hoping that I will care.
I'm not a steady rock to cling to,
A friendly port in any kind of weather,
Or the sort you should give a ring to.
Just ask the others.
How can you think I'm worthy of you?
How can you think I'll ever make you happy?
How can you think I'll learn to love you
Just like your mother.
Why do you let me take your heart,
Make it a ball to kick around?
It doesn't get you anywhere.
What in me makes you take it on, shake it off, stick around,
Hoping that I will care the way you do.
I hope you're right.
I'll hope that's true.
Always bitten, never shy.
Finishing last, nice guy.
Find somebody not so tough who knows you're good enough.
If you try to get away, I'll try to make you stay.
Can't bring myself to choose you, but don't want to lose you.
I'll set your wounds up on the wire
Line 'em up, ready, aim, fire.
And right way I see the damage.
But this is all that I can manage.
-Jo Lawry
Armor
arr. Matthew Chalmers
Let it begin, let Adam in
Step one: original sin
Underneath the leaves, Adam found Eve
Both of them found something sweet under the apple tree
Then it was over, roads divide
Step two: learning how to lie
Let me ask a question to present day:
How the hell did Eve end up with all the damn blame?
To all the dirty looks, the kitty-cat calls
To the ones who try and throw us up against the back walls
Let me tell you something you'll understand:
Only the little boys tell you they're a big man
To all my sisters and all our friends
We have to thank them, please
Strength means blessed with an enemy
All my, my, my, my armor comes from you
You make me try, try, try, try harder
Oh, that's all I ever do, ever do
Oh, no, no, my, my, my, my armor comes from you
You make me stronger, stronger
Now, hand me my armor
Step three: I see
The unforgettable, incredible ones who came before me
Brought poetry, brought science
Sowed quiet seeds of self-reliance
Bloomed in me, so here I am
You think I am high and mighty, mister?
Wait 'til you meet my little sister
All my, my, my, my armor comes from you
You make me try, try, try, try harder
Oh, that's all I ever do, ever do
Oh, no, no, my, my, my, my armor comes from you
You make me stronger, stronger
Now, hand me my armor
What you didn't do to bury me
But you didn't know I was a goddamn seed
You don't scare me, I am of the earth
So tired of your empire
Blind men only set the world on fire
Sad you can't see it
You brought the flame, here comes the phoenix
You make me try harder
Oh, it's all I ever do, ever do
Oh, no, no, my, my, my, my armor comes from you
You make me stronger, stronger
Hand me my armor
All my, my, my, my armor comes from you
You make me try, try, try, try harder
Oh, that's all I ever do, ever do
Oh, no, no, my, my, my, my armor comes from you
You make me stronger, stronger
Hand me my armor
-Sara Bareilles and Aaron Sterling
Kiss From a Rose
adapt. Kerry Marsh
There used to be a greying tower alone on the sea
And you became the light on the dark side of me
Love remained a drug that's the high and not the pill
But did you know that when it snows
My eyes become large and
The light that you shine can't be seen?
Baby, I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey
Ooh, the more I get of you, stranger it feels, yeah
And now that your rose is in bloom
A light hits the gloom on the grey
There is so much a man can tell you
So much he can say
You remain my power, my pleasure, my pain, baby
To me, you're like a growing addiction that I can't deny
Won't you tell me, is that healthy, baby?
But did you know that when it snows
My eyes become large and
The light that you shine can't be seen?
Baby, I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey
Ooh, the more I get of you, stranger it feels, yeah
Now that your rose is in bloom
A light hits the gloom on the grey
I've been kissed by a rose on the grey
I've been kissed by a rose on the grey
I've been kissed by a rose on the grey
I've been kissed by a rose on the grey
There is so much a man can tell you
So much he can say
You remain my power, my pleasure, my pain
To me you're like a growing addiction that I can't deny, yeah
Won't you tell me, is that healthy, baby?
But did you know that when it snows
My eyes become large and
The light that you shine can't be seen?
Baby, I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey
Ooh, the more I get of you, the stranger it feels, yeah
Now that your rose is in bloom
A light hits the gloom on the grey
Yes, I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey
Ooh, the more I get of you, the stranger it feels, yeah
And now that your rose is in bloom
A light hits the gloom on the grey
Now that your rose is in bloom
A light hits the gloom on the grey
-Seal
As Far as the Eye Can See
Darmon Meader
As far as the eye can see,
No matter who you are
Sound syncopating from afar
Take a moment to repeat
Heart to mind and soul to feet
You can imagine almost anything.
Raise your hand to the sky
The moment will find you by and by,
Just like the birds above,
They start to fly
The birds above are free to fly,
Spinning circle 'round the sun,
It could startle anyone
Into believing you know how somehow,
How to open up your heart
And let the music take you fast away
To a place you never thought you'd live to see the day.
Like a fragrance lingers on,
The kind that echoes in the air we breathe,
The love we need,
As far as the eye can see.
No matter who you are,
You can open up your heart
And let the music take you fast away
To a place you never thought you'd live to see the day.
Like a fragrance lingers on,
The kind that echoes in the air we breathe,
The love we need,
Far from the ordinary day,
There's no better way to say
Than let the music tell you who you are,
In a place where dreaming is the perfect work of art.
Endless possibilities,
The kind that echo in the air we breathe,
The love we need,
Far from the ordinary,
As far as the eye can see.
-Lauren Kinhan